Monday, June 05, 2017

BUFFALO -- Bill Murray's fans know to expect the unexpected from the multifaceted comedian and actor.

Murray became famous on "Saturday Night Live," and cemented his reputation with blockbuster comedies like "Ghostbusters," "What About Bob," and "Groundhog Day." In recent years, he's become equally as well-known for his serious work in films like "Lost in Translation" and "Broken Flowers;" for his passions for baseball and poetry; and for delighting his fans with surprise encounters. But it was a surprise encounter of his own that led Murray to venture into classical music.
Four years ago, Murray was seated across from cellist Jan Vogler on a transatlantic flight. The two men struck up a conversation, and then a friendship. They bonded over a shared love of poetry, and decided to embark on an artistic collaboration.

On October 11, Murray and Vogler bring "New Worlds" to Kleinhans Music Hall. The simple title speaks to both the project's origins as a collaboration between two different artistic worlds, and to the theme of the project itself.

"New Worlds" uses chamber music performed by Vogler, violinist Mira Wang and pianist Vanessa Perez and literary readings by Murray to communicate America's core values. The program seeks to illuminate the ties between great American authors and composers, and explores how they reinvented European traditions in music and literature to create a wholly American aesthetic.

Jan Vogler began his career as principal cellist of the Staatskapelle Dresden, and left to focus on solo work. He has been Artistic Director of the Moritzburg Festival near Dresden since 2001. In 2006, he received the European Award for Culture and in 2011 the Erich-Kästner Award for tolerance, humanity and international understanding. Vogler plays the 1707 ex-Castelbarco/Fau Stradivarius cello. Violinist Mira Wang, a native of China, is the winner of the International Violin Competition in Geneva and the First Prize of the International Violin Competition in New Zealand. She gave the premiere of Wolfgang Rihm's "Duo Concerto" on three continents in two months, and is featured on multiple recordings for Sony Classical and Berlin. She and Vogler are married and are at home in New York City with their two children. Venezuelan pianist Vanessa Perez holds degrees from the Royal Academy of Music and Yale University, and has released a number of solo and collaborative discs. In addition to her thriving chamber and recital career, she was also seen on the Amazon TV show "Mozart in the Jungle" last December.

The project premiered on June 4 at the Dresden Festival in Germany, and makes its United States debut on July 20 at the Festival Napa Valley in California before heading east to Chicago, Toronto and New York City's Carnegie Hall. Their Buffalo stop takes place on October 11 at 8 p.m. in the Main Hall at Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle, Buffalo. The BPO is not part of this performance. Tickets range from $59 to $99. A limited-availability Platinum VIP package is available for $250, and includes premium seating, a poster, and an exclusive meet-and-greet. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, June 9 and are available online at bpo.org, over the phone at (716) 885-5000, or in person at the Kleinhans box office.